You throw the ball. You catch the ball. You hit the ball…Of course, baseball fans know that this line from Bull Durham is far from true, part of the humor of the movie and a huge part of the fun of the game. This blog is a space to talk about baseball, being a baseball fan, all of those things that make the game fun and the Angels, because they make baseball fun for me.

Friday Night Wine and Angels: Rain Only Delays the Win

This is a very simple game. You throw the ball. You hit the ball. You catch the ball…except when it’s pouring rain and even making the simplest of catches or making contact with the fattest of meatball pitches can become fodder for a Keystone Cops remake. So Friday’s 4 – 3 victory against the White Sox was interesting, entertaining, maddening at times, and very, very wet – seriously, my hat is off to all of those tough Chicago fans who stayed for the whole game – but ultimately a win! This breaks the Angels seven game losing streak against the White Sox which makes me very happy indeed.

Jered Weaver did not have one of his better games but a less than great start for Weaver is still a pretty darned good start in the grand scheme of things and, when the Angels give him run support as they did last night, is usually enough to secure a victory. I was a little worried in the third inning, after he gave up a handful of hits and the infield and outfield each blew a play in rain aided, blooper reel worthy fashion. But then he stalked, nay stomped, off the mound with a string of curses at himself that required no lip reading expertise to interpret and I knew we’d be okay. When Weaver gets angry, he usually channels it back into the pitching with wicked effect.

The Angels still need to work on RISP and some guys had quiet bats, but Maicer Izturis was on fire, going 3 for 5 with a two RBI double. Mark Trumbo continues to hit well. Vernon Wells found his bat for the second game in a row and Peter Bourjos continues to show how speed can create a hit where you didn’t think one was possible. I got a kick of Mike Scioscia and Mike Butcher basically overriding the umpires’ second, hesitant, rain delay call in the bottom of the ninth, sending the Angels back out into the field to warm-up and even tossing Jordan Walden a baseball themselves until the umpires changed their mind and told the grounds crew to stop rolling out the tarp they only just wrestled into position.

So, about the Angels’ bullpen? I am sitting here icing my knee after the Saturday edition of my thrice weekly beating as I type this and I. Hate. Ice. Hate it. I do the ten minutes on, ten minutes off thing for an hour several therapist friends recommend because I can see the therapeutic benefits, but it never fails. The burn gets so stabbingly painful that I want to start clawing the furniture and chucking the ice bag across the room at nine minutes on the dot. Every. Single. Time. And, yet, I still think I would rather spend large parts of the 8th inning in a complete ice bath than watch Fernando Rodney play 8th inning set up guy again. I keep hearing how much Rodney has improved since he adjusted his mechanics but I am not seeing it. No, he didn’t allow a run, but he walked a guy and allowed a hit and we had to get the last two outs with runners on 2nd and 3rd. But, he got out of the inning and then Jordan Walden went one, two, three. It’s a wonderful new feeling to have a closer who closes.

Even with the rain abetted clumsiness and eight inning drama, it was a fun game to watch and this Friday saw the “season premiere” of Seth’s and my Friday Night Ritual – a nice dinner, a good bottle of wine and the Angels game, usually on delay so our commutes dont deny us a single pitch. This Fridays spread? Gourmet a’la lazy chefs – crostini with pea mint pesto or mushroom tapenade, prosciutto and apples with Chronic Cellars’ excellent red blend Sofa King Bueno chosen because the Chronic guys aren’t lying. The wine really is Sofa King Bueno.

And now the ice is finally off my knee – Yay!!! – and I am ready to enjoy watching what the new kid can do on the mound in his second start. Play Ball! …when the rain stops of course.

13 Comments

Your guys did good last night. And mine, not so good. Ergo, the outcome wasn’t really a shock. But, I still salute the Halos’ performance from last night.

And, hey, if your boys have any closers to spare, I know a team who could use one.

And, today, the drama is beginning before the first pitch is even thrown. :) Mother Nature seems to be interferring with our game day. They haven’t given up, yet, and we still have another couple of hours (realistically) of waiting before they may officially call it. But, so far, its cold and wet and gross and probably not much fun for anyone.

Your guys did good last night. And mine, not so good. Ergo, the outcome wasn’t really a shock. But, I still salute the Halos’ performance from last night.

And, hey, if your boys have any closers to spare, I know a team who could use one.

And, today, the drama is beginning before the first pitch is even thrown. :) Mother Nature seems to be interferring with our game day. They haven’t given up, yet, and we still have another couple of hours (realistically) of waiting before they may officially call it. But, so far, its cold and wet and gross and probably not much fun for anyone.

Where did this Hank Conger kid come from? His home run was hit a MILE but I was even more impressed by his defense. He called a good game, made some nice stops, and looked pretty seasoned behind the plate.
– Anders (The Hitless Wonders)

Anders – From about 15 miles west of the Big A, LOL! He came up through our farm system and was the was the 2010 All-Star Futures game MVP. Last season, as a September call-up, he was promising but needed to improved at the plate, on his throw downs to second and holding his glove still behind the plate. This season, he’s on a mission and surprising everyone. He was initially kept on the 25-man roster just because of all the Angels on the DL. But at this rate he could become our primary catcher and if he keeps this up, he’s sure got my “vote”. Thanks for dropping by my blog.
Kristen

I do not know, I loved playing in the rain as a kid in my baseball uniform. Made the clay into mud, the grass slick and produced some killer grass stains for Mom to find a way to make white again.
But then again we did play with aluminum bats…..lightning beware.
Baseball is a kid’s game played by adults, why not still have the same thrill, joy and overall excitement at an advanced age…..Money gets in the way.
Salaries, MLBPA guidelines, seafety precautions that outnumber rules tend to make it into a business not a sport at moments like this.
Maybe sometimes we all need to be 10 again and feel the cool rain on our faces and see that big mud puddle in front of Home Plate…I am stealing Home Coach!

Ah, Kristen, your Angels handed my White Sox their first sweep of the season. Sigh. But Walden looks extremely impressive. Jealous that you appear to have found such a steady bullpen presence.
Catherinehttp://chisoxblog.mlblogs.com/

Jane – Thanks! Well, love Walden though I do, he’s not Mo…though a couple of years from now, who knows?
Rays Renegade – Playing in the rain can be a lot of fun – though playing softball in California, we usually had good weather for it – but when you can’t make any of your pitches or catch or throw accurately, I imagine it’s kind of a drag. Regardless, I think you’re right, we all need to remember how much fun we had at ten.
Mark – Thanks! Enjoy! It makes Friday seem that much more festive, I think. I’ve heard there’s good wine country in your part of Canada.
Mike – Pleased to be of service. But, don’t worry, we’re going to try to “help the ChiSox” by beating up on the Tigers in July. It’s only fair. ;)
Catherine – Thanks for dropping by lady, that was classy. I’m not gonna lie, I’m thrilled with how the series turned out, of course. It’s only April though, and your Sox have a lot of good tools that are going to come together as the season moves along. I almost died when Walden loaded the bases for Juan Pierre. That easily could have gone differently.
— Kristen

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